Slotting & Grooving Bits

About Slotting & Grooving Bits

Slotting and grooving bits are essential router accessories designed to create precise channels, slots, and grooves in timber and sheet materials. MyToolShed.co.uk stocks a comprehensive range of professional-grade cutters from leading brands including Trend and Draper, suitable for both trade professionals and serious DIY enthusiasts. These versatile router bits enable accurate joinery work, decorative detailing, and specialist applications such as biscuit jointing and weatherseal installation.

Available in both 1/4" and 1/2" shank sizes, the selection at MyToolShed includes dedicated slotting blades, ball groovers, quad groovers, biscuit jointing cutters, tongue and groove sets, and complete arbor systems. Whether you're creating housing joints for shelving, cutting slots for door weatherseals, or producing decorative flutes and channels, these precision-engineered bits deliver clean, accurate results in hardwoods, softwoods, and manufactured boards.

Applications

Slotting and grooving bits are used across multiple trades and applications:

• Joiners and carpenters: Creating housing joints, tongue and groove profiles, and biscuit slots for cabinet construction
• Kitchen fitters: Cutting slots for worktop joints and weatherseal grooves in door frames
• Shopfitters: Producing decorative fluting, panel grooves, and display unit joinery
• Furniture makers: Cutting precise slots for drawer bottoms, back panels, and decorative detailing
• Door installers: Routing weatherseal channels and hinge recesses
• DIY enthusiasts: Home joinery projects, shelving installation, and custom woodworking

Choosing The Right Slotting & Grooving Bits

When selecting slotting and grooving bits from MyToolShed.co.uk, consider these key factors:

• Shank size: Ensure compatibility with your router – 1/4" shanks suit lighter routers, whilst 1/2" shanks provide greater stability for demanding applications
• Blade type: Choose single slotting blades for narrow grooves, quad groovers for adjustable width cuts, or ball groovers for decorative radiused channels
• Cutter material: TCT (tungsten carbide tipped) cutters offer extended life and maintain sharpness through abrasive materials and prolonged use
• Groove width: Select blade thickness according to your application – biscuit cutters are sized for No. 10 or No. 20 biscuits, whilst slotting blades range from narrow to wide cuts
• Arbor compatibility: For adjustable systems, verify the bore size (typically 12mm) matches your arbor, and check whether threaded or non-threaded variants are required
• Router power: Ensure your 240v router has sufficient power for the cutter diameter and cutting depth required

Safety Information

Always wear appropriate eye protection and hearing protection when operating routers. Ensure workpieces are securely clamped and never start the router with the bit in contact with the material. Check that bits are properly tightened before use and that the router is disconnected from the 240v supply when changing cutters. Allow bits to reach full speed before commencing cuts, and feed material against the rotation direction of the cutter. Regularly inspect bits for damage or excessive wear, and replace when cutting performance deteriorates.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between slotting blades and grooving cutters?

Slotting blades are thin, disc-shaped cutters mounted on arbors that create narrow slots, ideal for panel grooves and biscuit joints. Grooving cutters are typically one-piece bits designed for specific profiles such as ball grooves or weatherseal channels, offering fixed dimensions and decorative profiles.

Can I adjust the width of the groove with these bits?

Yes, with arbor-mounted systems. Multiple slotting blades can be stacked on a single arbor with spacing washers to create custom groove widths. Quad groovers feature four blades allowing various width combinations, whilst one-piece cutters produce a fixed groove width.

Which shank size should I choose for my router?

Use 1/2" shank bits wherever your router collet permits, as they provide better stability and reduced vibration. Reserve 1/4" shank bits for lighter routers or when working in confined spaces where smaller tool size is advantageous.